Catherine's advice for single parents seeking financial independence

After years of avoiding a conversation she feared would end badly, Catherine finally asked the question she'd been putting off, and discovered a pathway to greater financial independence, confidence and choice.

Following her separation almost a decade ago, Catherine remained in the family home, raising her two daughters and managing the mortgage herself. But with the home loan still in both names and her former husband keen to finalise their financial arrangements, she knew she could no longer delay deciding what came next.

As a self-employed single mum in Noosa, Queensland, Catherine worried the answer would be simple: she wouldn't be able to keep the home.

"I spent years imagining the worst-case scenario," she says. "I nearly made the decision for the bank before I'd even asked the question." 

Instead, a conversation with NAB Home Lending Executive Kelly Cougle helped Catherine understand her options and what would be required to move forward.

For Kelly, supporting customers through life-changing moments starts with listening.

"People often come to us when they're facing major decisions," Kelly says. "Sometimes the hardest part is taking that first step and having the conversation."

For Catherine, asking the question was transformative. After her application was approved and settlement finalised, she says the outcome represented far more than a mortgage. 

"It wasn't really about getting a home loan approved," she says. "It was about getting my independence back."

After sharing her story through What Women Want, the platform she co-founded for women over 50, Catherine received messages from women facing similar challenges, including those navigating separation, returning to work or trying to understand their financial future.

It reinforced a belief she feels strongly about: financial independence matters.

"There is something incredibly powerful about having choices," she says. "Financial independence looks different for everyone, but understanding your situation and knowing your options gives you freedom." 

Looking back, Catherine's advice is simple.

"Have the conversation sooner," she says. "Talk to your bank, understand your finances and set some goals. Don't assume you know what the outcome will be before you've explored your options."

Today, she is focused on the future: raising her daughters, growing her businesses and embracing the next chapter of her life.

"There are still challenges ahead," she says. "But something has shifted. I can see the next chapter now." 

And for Catherine, that's what financial independence is really about: having the confidence to move forward on your own terms.

Want to chat to a local home lending expert like Kelly? Book an appointment here.